Apple tree--Frankad cultivar

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct apple variety is provided which is especially well adapted for growing in warmer apple growing areas because of its unusually good heat tolerance. The new variety possesses a medium large upright and spreading growth habit and abundantly forms attractive dessert-type fruit. Such fruit is tangy and richly flavored, and possesses a bright red skin coloration coupled with exceptionally good flesh firmness when compared to other early ripening apple varieties.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety was discovered in 1959 as an open pollinated seedling ofGolden Delicious apple growing in the cultivated state in my orchard atStanthorpe, Queensland, Australia. The seeds from the Golden Deliciousfruit which produced the new variety were planted in 1950. Since a treeof the Williams Favorite variety was growing near to the GoldenDelicious female parent, it is possible that the Williams Favoritevariety may have been the male parent. The new variety first fruited in1959 and was selected because of its unique combination ofcharacteristics.

It was found that the new apple variety possessed

(a) an unusually good heat tolerance,

(b) a medium large upright and spreading growth habit, and

(c) the consistent production of heavy crops of early ripening largeround-oblate sprightly flavored fruit having a bright red skincoloration and firm flesh.

The fruit of the new variety ripens early in the season. For instance,the fruit commonly ripens during mid-summer or approximately four weeksprior to the Red Delicious-Mood apple cultivar when grown at Louisiana,Pike County, Mo. When grown at other locations the disparity in ripeningtimes may be even greater.

The flesh of the new apple variety is satiny white with a very slightgreenish tinge. Such flesh is unusually firm for a early ripening applevariety and possesses a rich tangy taste.

The bright red skin coloration of the fruit is present even when warmtemperatures are encountered which are commonly not favorable for theproduction of good fruit coloration. The fruits develop the attractivebright red coloration even when the nighttime temperatures exceed 75° F.However, the fruit coloration is somewhat darker in growing areas wherecooler nights are experienced. Heavy crops of such fruit consistentlyare formed.

Asexual propagation of the new variety was first carried out in theSpring of 1960 at my nursery at Stanthorpe, Queensland, Australia. Thisand subsequent propagations have demonstrated that the characteristicsof the new variety come true to form and are established and transmittedthrough succeeding generations.

This new variety has been named the Frankad cultivar and is subject tocommercialization by Stark Brothers Nurseries and Orchards Company underthe Adina trademark.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows typical specimens of the fruit andfoliage of the new variety in color as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in a color illustration of this character.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following is a detailed description of the new variety where colorterminology is to be accorded its ordinary dictionary significanceexcept where otherwise indicated. The specimen described was grown atLouisiana, Pike County, Mo.

Representative dates of first and last pickings were Aug. 12, 1985 andAug. 20, 1985 respectively.

Tree: Medium large; vigorous, upright and spreading; tall; round-topped;medium growing; hardy; productive; regular bearing.

Trunk.--Medium stocky; medium smooth.

Branches.--Medium thick; medium smooth; medium branching; grey-green incoloration. Lenticels. - medium number, medium in size.

Leaves.--Large; wide; long; ovate-elliptic; taper-pointed; medium thick;rugose; light pubescence on undersurface. Upper surface. Cossack GreenPlate VI Color No. 33, tone m of Ridgeway Color Standards andNomenclature. Undersurface. Cosse Green Plate V Color No. 29, tone i ofRidgeway Color Standards and Nomenclature. Length. -- approximately 313/16 to 37/8 inches. Width. -- approximately 17/8 to 23/8 inches.Margin. -- coarsely serrate. Petiole. -- medium long (approximately 7/8inch); medium thick.

Flowers: Medium early; large, white. Representative dates of first andfull bloom were Apr. 18, 1985 and Apr. 24, 1985, respectively.

Fruit:

Maturity when described.--Hard ripe -- Aug. 16, 1985.

Size.--Uniform. Axial diameter. -- approximately 23/4 to 27/8 inches.Traverse in suture plane. -- approximately 3 to 31/4 inches.

Form.--Globose-oblate, truncate at apex, slightly ribbed.

Cavity.--Symmetrical; rounded; undulate. Depth. -- approximately 9/16inch. Breadth. -- approximately 13/8 inch. Markings. -- light russet;yellowish Citrine Green Plate XVI Color No. 23, tone i of Ridgeway ColorStandards and Nomenclature.

Basin.--Symmetrical. Depth. - approximately 3/16 inch. Breadth. --approximately 7/8 to 1 inch. Markings. -- none.

Stem.--Medium-stout.

Calyx.--Open; segments persistent; broadly lanceolate. Length. --approximately 5/16 inch; separated at base; erect; reflexed from base atapex. Outer-surface. -- pubescent. Inner-surface. -- pubescent.

Eye.--Large; open.

Skin.--Thick; tough; smooth; glossy; waxed. Dots. conspicuous; many;large; even. Color of Dots. -- white. Distribution of Dots. -- all over;most numerous toward the cavity. Ground Color. -- Eugenia Red Plate XIIIColor No. 1' of Ridgeway Color Standards and Nomenclature. Color ofMarkings. -- striped; splashed; Neutral Red Plate XXXIII Color No. 71",tone k of Ridgeway Color Standards and Nomenclature. Bloom. -- abundant.Scarfskin. -- white; heavy; distributed mostly toward the cavity.General Color Effect. -- dark purple stripes over bright red groundcolor.

Flesh.--Juicy. Color. -- satiny white with greenish tinge. Texture. --firm; tender; coarse; crisp. Flavor. -- sub-acid; sprightly rich. Aroma.-- pronounced. Quality. -- good.

Cor.--Sessile. Bundle Area. -- large; cordate; symmetrical; halves ofarea equal. Core Lines. -- clasping; in cross-section distinct;Carpellary Area. -- distinct; large. Calyx Tube. -- glabrous towardbase; funnel-form. Stem of Funnel. -- long. Depth of Calyx Tube toShoulder. -- approximately 9/16 inch. Entire Depth. -- approximately 3/4inch. Styles. -- present; united toward base; pubescent throughout.Stamens. -- one distinct whorl; median. Auxillary Cavity. -- present.Seed Cells. -- abasile; open. Cell Walls.-- thin; tough. Length. --approximately 7/8 inch. Bredth. -- approximately 11/8 inch. LongitudinalSection. -- oblate; emarginate. Surface. -- fissured. Cross-section. --narrow.

Seeds.--Number perfect -- 10; number imperfect 0. Number in One Cell. --2. Length. -- approximately 5/16 inch. Breadth. -- approximately 3/16inch. Form. -- obtuse. Color. -- brown.

Use: Market, dessert.

Keeping quality: Good, stores well.

Resistance to:

Insects.--Medium.

Diseases.--Medium.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of apple tree, substantially asillustrated and described, characterized by (a) an unusually good heattolerance, (b) a medium large upright and spreading growth habit, and(c) the consistent production of heavy crops of early ripening largeround-oblate sprightly flavored fruit having a bright red skincoloration and firm flesh.